Considering Coal in new home... Questions!!

[Timsa20]

Hello!
I am building a new house in NH and am seriously considering an "in-basement" stoker coal stove. I have many questions, but I'll begin with four;

1. What are the exaust/chimny requirements for a stoker coal stove (can they be direct vented through the foundation or do they require a standard block/brick chimney with a tile flu)?

2. I've had someone tell me that years ago they burned Anthricite and found a fine black dust throughout the home. Essentially they said it was a bit dirty. I've also been told that this isn't a problem with the newer stokers..... I figured I'd go to the experts (you folks), for an opinion on the newer stoakers. Do you find any of this "dust" that was mentioned?

As this is a new home, I can go with an in-basement unit or perhaps even one of the out door units. I'm partially disabled and think the in-basement unit will be more convienient. I'm going with forced hot water by the way, probably with an LP backup for summer/times when I'm away.

3. As I've been reading other posts, someone mentioned putting a stoker in their garage. Sounds like a great idea. I'm building a 2-car with an attached wood working shop and need some heat for the shop as well as the house. Could I install a stoker in the garage/shop and feed the house's forced hot water heating system AND my domestic hot water AND heat my swimming pool some how?

4. If I'm putting a stoker in the garage/shop, should I be looking at a stoker furnace (like you'd install in the basement of a home?) or should I be considering one of the "out door" units that I could chimney out of the shop?

Thanks... everything posted here is VERY helpfull... you folks are gems!
Thanks Soooo much,

[FedFire47]

1. As far as the requirements check with your local code official for fire and building code requirements. They will probably tell you that the chimney will have to go past the roofline due to the high concentration of CO2 that will be discharged from it. I have seen people that have made chimneys out of flue pipe so I would assume that is exceptable.

2. Anthracite is dirty. I don't think anyone will dispute that. Most of the dust comes from transferring the coal from the bin to the hopper. To alleviate this problem you have to simply keep the coal wet before you move it. This will not effect the burning characteristics of the coal but may give off a brief sulfur smell. Another dirt problem is ashes. Just like anything else the more you clean it the cleaner it will be. As far as a black dust in the house I have never had that. Most dust and dirt is confined to the furnace area.

3. If I had a garage or ouside building to put mine in that is what I would have done. It will keep the unit away from the living area and you wouldn't have to keep going up and down steps everyday to take care of it. I'm sure it would make the delivery man happier also. Your welcome coal man .

4. I'm not sure what your asking with your 4th question. I can say I have a K5 boiler from keystoker. It heats my 2500 sq ft home, does the domestic hot water, and I'm sure if you wanted to add it to a pool heating system it would do that also.

Good luck and you won't regret going to coal. It is cheap and only requires a little labor on your part. It is well worth the investment.

[ktm rider]

I think i know what you mean with your fourth question, maybe.
I think you mean that the furnace you are going to put into your homes basement is a hot air furnace. The units that sit outside are almost always boilers. ( meaning they heat up water ) although they are called outdoor furnaces. You will almost have to have a boiler if you want it outside in the garage, No big deal however.
You can not put an outdoor furnace inside any structure. I tried this and the insurance company shot it down. It has to be 6 ft away from anything pretty much.
There are quite a few boilers that are designed to go indoors and are approved by insurance companied ( reluctantly I'm sure )

http://www.alternateheatingsystems.com This is the one I have. Although there are others.
Having it inside the garage is great. It keeps the whole mess outside. There are no issues with getting the coal down the steps ,etc.. and the wife can not complain about the mess ( big bonus ) and you don't freeze to death standing outside shoveling coal into an outdoor furnace.